Shans send Memoranda To His Majesty

Shans send Memoranda To His Majesty's Government

Back To The Past-Today 
16 January 1947 

In response to the invitation of Burmese delegation to London, the Shan States Council had sent two memoranda to the Labor government of Clement Atlee today. 

The memoranda, signed by Khun Pan Sing, President of the Council and Prince of Tawngpeng State, mentioned HM Government's post war aim "to have some form of amalgamation with the Frontier Areas with Burma proper" and maintained that "from the constitutional point of view, we do not yet feel in a position to deal with an adjoining 'Independent Burma', unless we receive guarantees and assurances . . . prepared or passed by the Executive Committee (of the Council) from time to time". 

The Shan princes, called Saohpas, had formed the Council during the Panglong Conference, later to be known as Panglong I, 20-28 March 1946. "As this was a somewhat unwieldy body, difficult to convene in a country with bad means of communication rendered worse by the ravages of war", said the memoranda, "it was resolved at a later meeting, held in July 1946, that for the immediate future, an Executive Committee of seven Saohpas (was to be) selected for the purpose of deciding all questions of future administration and policy . . . ". 

The seven executive members were: 

1. Sao Khun Pan Sing, Tawngpeng State President 
2. Sao Shwe Thaike, Yawnghwe State Vice President 
3. Sao Khun Khio, Mongmit State Member 
4. Sao Zarm Htoon, Mongpawn State Member 
5. Sao Khun Kyi, Sahtung State Member 
6. Sao Htun Aye, Samongkham State Member 
7. Sao Hompha, North Hsenwi State Member 

The Executive Committee demanded that "the Federated Shan States be placed immediately on the same political status as the adjoining country of Burma proper" and "the powers given to the Burmese Government now functioning be similarly given to the Executive Committee, which is a regularly constituted body functioning de facto in the Shan States". 

It also stated that "the Shan States are willing to negotiate on the question of Federation with Burma on the understanding and basis of full autonomy for the Shan States, this condition to be duly provided for and guaranteed in the future constitution for Burma . . with the right to secede from the Federation if so desired". 

Meanwhile, Aung San and his 9 member delegation were negotiating with their British counterparts from 13-27 January.